Chris Pagliuco ’99 and his new book, The Great Escape of Edward Whalley and William Goffe

For a history writer, uncovering an engaging but forgotten story among dusty and long-untouched archives must be like the prospector who catches the glint of gold among the dirt in the bottom of his pan. And Christopher Pagliuco ’99 is one such history writer, with a new book, The Great Escape of Edward Whalley and William Goffe: Smuggled through Connecticut (The History Press), to show for his efforts.

The book tells the story of Puritans Edward Whalley and William Goffe, who joined the parliamentary army against the tyrant, King Charles I, in the English civil wars. Under their battlefield leadership, the army trounced the Royalist forces and then cut off the king’s head. Yet when Charles II regained the throne, Whalley and Goffe fled to the colonies aboard the ship Prudent Mary—never to see their families or England again. Even with the help of New England’s Puritan elite, including Reverend John Davenport, they struggled to stay a step ahead of searches for their arrest in Boston, New Haven (where they hid out in Judges Cave), and the outpost of Hadley, Massachusetts. Forced to live as fugitives, these former major generals survived many frontier adventures in 17th century New England.

Besides working as a freelance writer, Chris teaches high school history in Madison, Connecticut, and serves as town historian in Essex and on the editorial team of Connecticut Explored, a quarterly history magazine. He lives with his wife, two daughters and two dogs in Ivoryton, Conn. If you remember Chris, or have read his book, drop him a line.

Students in Professor Andoveloniaina Rasolofo’s French linguistics class at New York’s Manhattanville College, listening to Dr. Langford.

On May 1, French linguistics students at Manhattanville College in New York had their first encounter with Cheshire County’s Franco-Americans, via the wizardry of Skype.

From her office in Morrison Hall, Professor Margaret Langford delivered her interactive PowerPoint lecture, An Invisible Presence: The Franco-Americans in New England (Une Présence invisible: Les Franco-Americans de la Nouvelle Angleterre), to Professor Andoveloniaina Rasolofo’s students and guests at Manhattanville. Dr. Langford explained to her audience how more than 900,000 French-Canadians (Québécois) immigrated to the United States, primarily coming to New England and upper-state New York, from the mid 1800s to well into the 1930s, and that many of their descendants still abide there. Using the Franco-American experience in Cheshire County, New Hampshire as a model, Dr. Langford examined the question: “Why don’t we know more about the Franco-Americans today, despite their significant numbers and contributions?”

“My students and I learned a lot about a topic that is seldom discussed,” explained Professor Rosolofo.

Professor Langford found it “an exhilarating experience!”

KSC’s Upward Bound program prepares high school students for success in high school and college by building the academic skills, motivation, and self-confidence necessary for success in college. Funding for the program comes from the United States Department of Education, so the Upward Bound experience is free for students from low-income families.

In these days of economic turmoil, funding for important programs such as this is uncertain, at best. When NH Senator Jeanne Shaheen was on campus in early May to discuss student-loan debt, Upward Bound staffers contacted her to express their funding concerns.  The following week, Senator Shaheen reported that the Dept. of Ed. announced renewed funding to the UB programs at both UNH and KSC. UNH will receive nearly $478,000, while Keene will receive nearly $422,000. According to UB’s Assistant Director, Beth Zinn, this will allow the program to serve 94 high school students and their families from eight local high schools in southeastern Vermont and southwestern New Hampshire—more students than it could serve before. “It’s exciting to know that we now have the money to continue to serve these awesome kids,” Zinn said.

Three KSC Safety Studies students have received scholarships from the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), a national organization that represents more than 34,000 safety, health, and environmental professionals. Travis Brenner, a Keene State senior, was awarded the Flatiron Construction Christopher Gonzalez Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $4,700. Keene State senior, Timothy Brinkerhoff, received the Greater Boston Chapter Leadership Award of $1,000, and Joshua Besnoff, Keene State graduate student, was awarded the New England Area Future Leadership Award in the amount of $1,000.

The money will be a big help in moving these students ahead in their career paths. “
This scholarship will be great support towards graduate school,” Brenner said.

Alums: Share your love of Keene State and encourage prospective students. The Admissions Office can really use your help. We’ll be offering a one-hour information and training session on June 2nd—the Saturday of Reunion Weekend. The session will offer important insight and prepare you to help out at a college fair and meet with prospective students and families. The session will take place at 4 p.m. in the Admissions Office in Elliot Hall. For more information or to sign up, please contact Peg Richmond, Director of Admissions (800-KSC-1909 or 603-358-2276).